A Typical Day at Inverdoorn

Every day at Inverdoorn is different, but there is a tentative schedule that most days follow. There are many things that students will be helping with and taking part in each day. Flexibility is key at the reserve though as every day new surprises and tasks arise that must be completed.

7:50 am

Morning Meeting

8:00 – 9:30 am

Morning Routine

(feed the rhinos, feed the rabbits, clean Velvet and Iziba’s camp, prepare Velvet and Iziba’s food and feed them, check on the cheetahs in the breeding camps)

Time with Velvet and Iziba (e.g. Taking them to the dam or the playground, taking them for a walk, doing a run with them at the landing strip)

10:30 – Noon

Cheetah Interaction with guests (location varies)

*If no guests have signed up for a cheetah interaction then chores continue till noon

Noon – 1:00 pm

Lunch Break

1:00 – 1:30 pm

Odd chores (see examples above)

*Sometimes depending on the number of visitors for lunch we help serve drinks to guests

1:30 – 2:00 pm

Take Velvet and/or Iziba out to the lawn in front of the lodge over guests’ lunch break for them to see

2:00 – 3:00 pm

Chores/Walk the cheetahs

3:00 – 4:30 pm

Set up and conduct the cheetah run with the wild cheetahs for the overnight guests

4:30 – 5:00 pm

Feed the rabbits and rhinos

5:00 pm

End of the day

5:00 – 6:30 pm

Aperitif at the Tower in the main reserve

*If there are more than 10 overnight guests then we prepare drinks and light snacks for the guests

Every day at Inverdoorn is different, but each day starts out with the morning routine. After the morning meeting we go off to conduct our morning chores. This consists of feeding the two rhino babies (Bundu and Livinia), feeding the rabbits, cleaning Velvet and Iziba's enclosure and feeding Velvet and Iziba. After the morning routine is complete the rest of the day’s tasks largely depend on the number of visitors at the lodge, their requests and the weather. Most days will involve some odd chores that need to be done such as cleaning the cheetah kitchen, cleaning the rabbit camps, meat work, untangling the pulley machines, etc. Each day also involves time spent with Velvet and Iziba too though. They are very affectionate and energetic cheetahs and need to be given attention every day. Some days there will be Cheetah Interactions if guests have signed up for them. If there are no Interactions scheduled for the day we like to take the cheetahs out to the dam or the playground where we can let them off their leashes to explore and play. Sometimes at the dam they even try to hunt buck. Our lunch break is typically from noon till 1pm, but this can change depending on the day’s activities. After lunch we check on the rabbits and refill their water bowls and clean up the cheetah kitchen a bit. Over the guests’ lunch break, if the weather permits, we take Velvet or Iziba (sometimes both) out to the grass area in front of the lodge for the guests. This is a very important part of the educational component at Inverdoorn, because it gives guests the opportunity to see the cheetahs and ask questions about them.

Cheetah conservation is one of the main focuses at Inverdoorn. At 3pm we leave to set up the cheetah run with the wild cheetahs for the overnight guests. Afterwards, before going home for the day, we feed the rhinos and rabbits in the evening.

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About the author

Kirsty Woodhead was born in South Africa. When she was still a young girl she moved to Canada, where she is completing her education. Her studies incorporate a focus on wildlife and she is a strong proponent of eco-tourism. She has travelled extensively, including various game reserves and national parks across southern Africa, and her pursuit has led to...

The staff at Inverdoorn hail from various parts of South Africa, and even other parts of the world. As a result they all have very different and diverse backgrounds, but are connected by...

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